Change or rekey · Oro-Medonte
Lock Replacement & Upgrade in Oro-Medonte
The century home's original mortise lock takes a key the size of a spoon, sticks in humid weather and has worn its strike to a groove. You want a lock that works every day without giving up the old door.
Lock Replacement & Upgrade
In plain words
A keypad or smart lock is a lock replacement with a few extra steps, and it suits households where keys circulate widely. The locksmith fits the new deadbolt to the existing bore, checks that the bolt throws freely so the motor is never straining against a misaligned strike, sets up user codes and any phone pairing, and shows you the mechanical override and the battery warning. Because these locks still rely on a bolt and a strike, the same attention goes into the frame as for any deadbolt. You gain convenience without giving up the mechanical basics that make a door hard to force.
How the visit goesThe century home's original mortise lock takes a key the size of a spoon, sticks in humid weather and has worn its strike to a groove. You want a lock that works every day without giving up the old door.
Oro-Medonte
How the visit goes
The rest of the openings
One failing lock is often the loudest of several, so the locksmith takes a short tour. The back door, the garage man-door, a basement walkout, a sliding patio door and a storm door all count, and so does the door from the garage into the house, which is often the lightest lock on the property. Each is noted for grade, condition and whether it has a deadbolt at all. You are not obliged to do them all at once; the value of the tour is a clear list ranked by what matters most, so the first replacement goes where it makes the largest difference.
Keying the new locks to one key
New cylinders arrive on random keys, so the locksmith pins them alike on site when you want one key for the house. Each cylinder is removed, the plug slid out on a follower so the springs stay put, and the bottom pins replaced to match a single new key. Existing cylinders that are staying are repinned the same way. Every key is then cut from the new combination, tried in every lock it should open, and any that drag are recut rather than handed over. The result is one key for the front, back and garage doors, and a clear count of how many exist.
A smart lock with its backup arranged
A keypad or smart deadbolt leaves the visit with codes set for each person, auto-lock and alerts configured, and any phone pairing confirmed while the locksmith is there to check it. You are shown the low-battery signal so you recognise it, and the type of battery the maker calls for. The mechanical override key is the piece to look after: keep it on a keyring or with a neighbour rather than inside the home it opens. A second person's code is set up before the locksmith leaves, so a flat phone or a forgotten code is never a reason to stand on the porch.
Lock Replacement & Upgrade
In the van
- Chisels, mallet and hand screwdrivers
- Key blanks and key cutter
- 75 millimetre strike and hinge screws
- Boring jig and hole saws
- Handleset with matching deadbolt
What affects the quote
Same fees day, night or weekend
1Keying alike and rekeying
Pinning new cylinders to one key and repinning existing locks to match is work per cylinder, so a whole house on a single key is quoted by the number of locks joining it.
2Strike reinforcement and jamb repair
A reinforced strike with long screws is a modest addition; repairing a jamb split from a forced entry, or fitting a strike box into a frame that has never had one, adds labour and materials.
3Changes to the door preparation
Adjusting a strike mortise is minor; boring a new hole for a deadbolt, fitting a filler plate over an old mortise pocket or adapting a thick door with extension kits is quoted as its own item.
Lock Replacement & Upgrade: questions
Can I replace only the deadbolt and keep my existing knob?
Yes. The deadbolt and the knob or lever are separate locks in separate bores, so one can be replaced while the other stays. The new deadbolt can be pinned to work on the same key as the knob if the keyways are compatible, and its finish can be matched to the knob so the door looks intended. Replacing the deadbolt first is a sensible order, since it does most of the securing.
Can I stop people copying my house key?
A restricted keyway helps with that. The key blanks are controlled by the manufacturer and its authorised locksmiths, so a copy generally requires the card, record or authorisation the program uses, cutting down on copies made at an ordinary kiosk. It suits homes where keys are lent to cleaners, contractors or tenants. The cylinders are fitted in the normal way, and you keep the key card safe because it is what future copies depend on.
Can the same visit replace locks on more than one door, or does each door need its own appointment?
One visit usually covers every door on the job. The locksmith brings a range of cylinders and strikes, measures each door's backset and bore, and works through the list in order, front entrance first if a key change matters most there. Having a rough list ready, which doors, and whether they should end up on one key or several, lets the locksmith plan hardware before arriving rather than working it out door by door on site.
Change or Rekey Locks
- Deadbolt InstallationYou bought a keypad deadbolt online and pulled the old one off, only to find the hole in the door…
- Vintage Mortise Lock ServiceThe old skeleton key still fits the keyhole, but it now needs a jiggle, a lean on the door and a…
- Smart Lock InstallationYou have just taken possession of the house and the previous owners handed over a keypad deadbolt…
Lock Replacement & Upgrade near you
Every lock service we provide in Oro-Medonte starts with the same first step, which is looking at the door properly before deciding anything. The individual pages below explain what that look involves for each job, how the work is carried out, and what to expect from the hardware afterwards.